Strong demand for wolf hunting licenses in Michigan delays sale date

Wolf management units in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Sixteen wolves are targeted in area A, 19 wolves in area B, and 8 wolves in area C.

State of Michigan

Update 7/30/13 9:25a.m.

The DNR announced this morning it will delay wolf hunting license sales until September 28th. The licenses were to go on sale this Saturday, August 3rd. Licenses will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

"We anticipate that there will be a lot of people trying to buy a very limited number of licenses in a short timeframe," said Adam Bump, DNR bear and furbearer specialist. "This is a first-come, first-served purchase, unlike other limited-license hunts that require an application and drawing process, so it presents a new challenge for our retail sales system. We want to make sure the system is equipped for the high volume so sales go smoothly and everyone has an equal chance to get a wolf license."

“We know interest is high because it’s a new species," the DNR's Ed Golder said. "We want to make sure we’ve got our technology in place. We want to make sure we have staffing levels right. We want to make sure all those pieces are in place for a fair and equitable and efficient sale of licenses when they do go on sale,” Golder said.

Wolves were listed as an endangered species in Michigan until 2012. But wolves have caused problems in parts of the Upper Peninsula. Hunting will be allowed in three areas in the U.P.

“The (Natural Resources Commission) set those targets in those areas specifically because those are the areas of chronic conflict with wolves. That includes killing of livestock and pets and even human safety concerns in some areas," Golder said. There have been no reported attacks on humans in Michigan.

When the wolf hunting licenses do go on sale, the state will sell up to 1,200 of them. Resident will pay $100, non-resident $500. Individuals can only get one license per person. Only 43 wolves will be allowed to be killed.